News & Announcements

A letter from Pam Seamans

After much reflection and careful consideration over the course of this past fall, I have decided to resign as the Executive Director of the NC Alliance for Health, a position I have held for the last 13 years. This resignation was effective December 31, 2015. To some this news may be very surprising. To others, it may not.

2015 was a very difficult year for me and my family with the unexpected passing of my father in late September. This life changing event triggered much contemplation on my part about what is really important to me and where I should be devoting my time and effort, as life is short. While I love the Alliance’s policy work, it sometimes came at a price to my family and my health. Many of you may be familiar with my attempts over the years to scale back my responsibilities. But given the small size of the Alliance staff and the nature of NCAH’s policy work, the foundation always seemed to be shifting, requiring constant adaption to new political, organizational and financial circumstances.

As you can imagine, this decision didn’t come easily. But I have concluded that there will never be a “good” time, but now is the “right” time for my family and for me to take this step. I am confident that under the strong leadership of the NCAH Executive Committee and NCAH’s Managing Director, Morgan Wittman Gramann, the Alliance is in a position to move forward, stronger than ever. NCAH will remain steadfast in its dedication to improving public health by promoting policies that reduce the impact of tobacco-use and obesity in our state. And I hope, for the sake of the coalition, that more reliable and stable funding streams may be found to continue NCAH’s policy change work!

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support of the Alliance and its policy priorities over the past 13 and a half years. The Alliance would not be in the strong position it is today without your advocacy efforts, input, expertise and financial support! The policy successes we have seen came as a result of the work of so, so many people who care passionately about tobacco control and obesity prevention. You all have inspired me and taught me so much – from those of you with the policy expertise, to those of you who were willing to contact legislators time and again due to your passion for the issue. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this team that created, grew and sustained a state-wide policy change coalition.

I am eager to simply take a break at this point in my life after working for so long in what sometimes felt like hyper-drive. It is my hope that a little time and space will provide clarity about my next steps professionally. But I feel certain that there will be many reasons for my path to cross with many of you again in the near and distant future. After all, there is still much work to be done to address tobacco-use and obesity here in NC! Though I leave at this juncture, I will always care deeply about pursuing the Alliance’s policy priorities.